Snow White is a Gangster (Published under Cloak Pop Fiction)

Chapter 3: Christmas Day

Chapter 3: Christmas Day

"Did you just give our house a 360-degree drive?"

Napangiti ako nang marinig ang boses na iyon habang naglalakad sa main lounge ng mansion. There--standing between the gigantic white Christmas tree and a royal blue couch--was my brother. And he was holding a wrapped gift in his hand.

"I guess I can never do anything naughty without you noticing. You are one over-protective, little brother," biro ko.

"I'm not. I'm just afraid that you're burying a dead body on our grounds," nakangiti niyang ganti na ikinatahimik ko. I knew that he was just joking but his statement was just too close to the truth for comfort. And I couldn't help but react to what he said a little, especially coming from my favorite person in the world.

"Too much Stephen King books?" Sagot ko na lang at pabagsak na umupo sa couch. Umupo siya sa tabi ko at saka ini-abot ang hawak niyang regalo.

"Hindi ako ang bumili ng Iron Man collectibles para diyan. Actually, I have two gifts for you, Hetta. But I'm just too excited to give this one to you," nakangiti pa rin niyang sabi.

Tinitigan ko siya nang matagal bago tanggapin ang regalo. I still couldn't read him. Trying to get a read on my brother was like becoming someone else and trying to read another version of Henrietta Arturia. There was no success. Giving up, inumpisahan kong tanggalin sa pagkakabalot ang kahon. It revealed a grey glossy box. Tiningnan ko muna si Wycliffe bago binuksan ang kahon. And I froze instantly, staring wide-eyed inside the box. It was the first book of Fifty Shades of Grey. My brother must really be a twisted version of me.

Humahalakhak na tumakbo si Wycliffe palayo sa akin. "Well, Santa Claus said, you can never be naughty!" Tumatawa niyang sabi. If it was just any other person, I would just ignore it. But this was my brother, Wycliffe Arturia. He shouldn't even have a clue about things like this just yet! How did he even buy this? Forget it. He probably didn't buy it himself. That brat.

"As long as you don't read this, I will gladly keep this on the far corner of my library." Hindi ko alam kung ano'ng pumasok sa utak niya at ni-regaluhan niya ako nito. Palagi kong sinasabi sa kanya na hindi ko pa kayang basahin ang librong ito kahit gaano pa ito kasikat. And for heaven's sake! He was only 14 years old!

"You know what, hindi bagay sa personality mo ang hitsura mo. I think you should wear glasses, long skirts and pull your hair up in a tight bun! That's how the freaks in our school are dressing up!" Nakangiti niyang sabi habang pinapanatili ang distansya naming dalawa.

"Are you bullying someone at school?" Kunot-noo kong tanong. Sandali siyang napaisip. And that actually confirmed that he was actually bullying someone in school.

"She ignores me a lot," he said with distaste in his voice. I couldn't help but smile. It was a really rare event that someone would ignore a boy like him. Maybe my brother was really growing up. He was even developing pride and ego now.

"I think I'll like that girl," nakangiti kong sabi na ikinasimangot niya.